Knitting machine



Jan. 17, 1956 E. JETTE KNITTING MACHINE ll Sheets-*Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 31, 1955 INVENTOR Emile JETTE fiyzx' m6 ATTORNE Y8 Jan. 17, 1956 1-; JETTE KNITTING MACHINE 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 31, 1955 mvmvron Emile JE 7715 ATTOR NE Y5 Jan. 17, 1956 E. JETTE 2,730,879

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 51, 1955 11 Sheets-Sheet 3 121 n 1231 k 9 125 1 g 1 134 5d 1 Bl C V INVENTOR Emile JETTE if .14 BY f Jan. 17, 1956 E. JETTE 2,730,379

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 31, 1955 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 um 43 M Jan. 17, 1956 E. JETTE 2,730,879

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 31. 1955 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTUR Emi/e 11E TTE Filed Jan. 51, 1955 E. JETTE KNITTING NE 11 Sheets- 6 II I] Jan. 17, 1956 Filed Jan. 51, 1955 E. JETTE KNITTING MACHINE 11 Sheets-Sheet 7 IN VE N TOR E. JETTE KNITTING MACHINE Jan. 17, 1956 11 sheets-sheet 8 Filed Jan. 31, 1955 uvvazvron Emile \/E T TE ATTORNEYS Jan. 17, 1956 E. JETTE KNITTING MACHINE 11 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Jan. 31. 1955 INVENTDR [mi/e JfTTE ATTORNEYJ Jan. 17, 1956 E. JETTE 2,730,879

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 31, 1955 11 Sheets-Sheet 1O I NVENTOR Emile JETTE Jan. 17, 1956 Filed Jan. 31, 1955 E- JETTE KNITTING MACHINE 11 Sheets-Sheet 11 I N VE NTOR Emile JE 7' TE the character described.

United States Patent Ofiflce 2,730,879 Patented Jan. 17, 1956 KNITTING MACHINE Emile Jette, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Application January 31, 1955, Serial No. 485,105

25 Claims. (CI.- 66-13) The present invention relates to a method and to a machine for producing knitted fabrics and more particularly knitted fabrics of the jersey stitch type which have plain and purl stitches in the same wales.

Knitting machines which produce knitted fabrics with plain and purl stitches in the same wales are known: a first type of machine has two opposite separate sets of needles disposed at a predetermined angle for knitting plain and purl stitches and the transfer of the stitches from one set of needles to the other is a complicated and time consuming operation; a second type of machine also has at least two cylinders with double hook latch needles and requires a mechanism for transferring the double hook needles from one cylinder to the other to thereby knit with either the top or the bottom hook. The latter type of machine is very complicated and delicate in construction which results in frequent breakdowns which delay production.

Accordingly, the general object of the present invention is the provision of a machine for producing knitted fabrics having purl and plain stitches in the same Wale, by means of a single cylinder and with only one set of needles.

Another important object of the present invention is the provision of a new type of knitting needles and of novel transfer members for producing knitted fabrics of Still another important object of the present invention is the provision of a new method of producing; jersey stitch knitted fabrics incorporating purl stitches.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a machine of the character described which may be provided with a Jacquard type mechanism for pro ducing link and link knitting according to any predetermined pattern.

Still another important object of the present invention is the provision in a knitting machine of the character described of pivoted hooks for purl knitting which are mounted on the knitting needles below the top hook thereof, said pivoted hooks being capable of being used either on latch hook needles or on so called spring needles.

Yet another important object of the present invention is the provision of a multiple feed knitting machine in which the purl knitting means may be associated with certain or all of the, feeds.

Another important object, oftthe present invention is the provision of a transfer member adapted to transfer the new loop knitted by the associated needle unto said same needle.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a transfer member which is adapted to positively pivot the latch of the top book of the needle as sociated, with said transfer member.

The foregoing and other important objects of the pres.- ent invention will become more apparent during the: following disclosure and by referring to; the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a partial longitudinal section of the machine showing its essential elements according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a needle with a long butt;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the lower end of a needle with a short butt;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of the needle showing the various positions of the pivoted hook;

Figure 5 is a cross-section along line 55 of Fig ure 4;

Figure o is a perspective view of a sinker and associated pick or transfer member;

Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of the elements shown in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a top view of the sinker and transfer member;

Figure 9 is a cross-section along line 99 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a cross-section along line 10-10 of Figure 8;

Figure ll is a partial perspective view of the needle cylinder and of a sinker and transfer member;

Figure 12 is a diagrammatic elevation, looking through the cam block, of the needle operating cam system and of the needles in which some of the needles are in position for knitting a one and one rib pattern;

Figure 13 is a diagrammatic plan view of the sinker cam of the sinker ring, and is in relation with Figure 12;

Figure 14 is a side view of part of the cam on the sinker ring for actuating the pivoted transfer member, said view being related to Figures 12 and 13;

Figures ii to 30 inclusive are cross-sections of the top part of the needle cylinder, and show the various consecutive operative positions of a set (a needle, 21 sinker and a transfer member) for knitting a purl stitch;

Figure 31 is an exploded perspective view of the sinker cam ring and of various elements mounted thereon;

Figure 32 is a partial perspective view showing the feed member and sinker guard in their respective positions with respect to the needles in position for knitting purl stitches;

Figure 33 is a plan view of a portion of the cylinder and sinker ring;

Figure 34 is an elevation of the needle operating cam system;

Figure 35 is a perspective view of the selector for engaging all the needles or for selecting the short butt needles when the selector of Figure 36 is in a higher position;

Figure 36 is a perspective view of the selector for engaging needles with long butts;

Figure 37 is a perspective view of the selectors in assembled position;

Figure 38 is a partial perspective view of the needle operating cam system seen from the inside of the cam block;

Figure 39 is a cross-section of the cam block taken along line 39--39 of Figure 34 showing the selectors in position to operate all the needles to knit purl stitches;

Figure 40 is a cross-section similar to that of Figure 39 showing the selectors in position to operate the long butt needles to knit purl stitches and the short butt needles to knit plain stitches;

Figure 41 is a cross-section taken along line 41-41 of Figure 34 showing the long butt needles engaging the top cam channel for knitting purl stitches and the short butt needles engaging the lower cam channel for knitting plain stitches;

Figure42 is an elevation of the control mechanism for operating the selectors;

Figure 43 is a partial perspective view of the outside sembled position;

Figure 44 is a perspective view of one of said cylinder doors;

Figure 45 is a cross-section of the cylinder and of the cylinder door showing how the latter is removed;

Figure 46 is a cross-section of the needle cylinder and cylinder door in closed position; and

Figure 47 is an outside perspective view of the cam block showing the control mechanism for operating the selectors and also the means for varying the size of the stitches.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings in which like reference characters indicate like elements throughout, there is provided, according to the invention, a special knitting needle more particularly shown in Figures 2 to inclusive. The needle l compriscs a shank 2 of substantially rectangular cross-section having side faces 3 and outer and inner end faces 4 and 5 respectively. A long butt 6 or short butt 7 depends from the lower end 8 of the needle 1 and extends outwardly at right angles to the outer end face 4. The top end of the shank of the needle forms an integral hook 9 of conventional shape and construction and which is provided with a pivoted latch 10 adapted to close the hook 9, said latch 10 being of conventional construction also and pivoted to the needle shank 2 at 11 within a slot 12 made in said shank. In a modified known construction, the hook 9 and latch 10 are replaced by a. resilient hook to form so-called spring needles.

According to the present invention, there is provided a second hook 13 pivoted at 14 on the needle shank and disposed within a saw cut or slot 15 opening at both end faces 4 and 5 and extending substantially parallel to the side faces 3. The pivotable hook 13 is located at a substantial distance below the top hook 9 and latch 10 so that there is no co-operation between the pivotable hook 13 andlatch 10. The portion of the needle shank immediately above the pivot 14 of the hook 13 is curved outwardly to form a curved boss 16 at the outer end face 4 and a corresponding inwardly curved recess 17 at the inner end face 5.

The outer end of the hook 13 is bent into a U and pro- 1 vides a slightly rounded tip 18. The length of the slot or saw cut 15 is slightly smaller than twice the length of the hook so that the latter abuts the end walls 20 and 21 in its up and down limit position respectively, as'clearly shown in Figure 4. t In said positions, the tip 18 of the hook extends within the slot 15. The pivoted end of the hook 13 forms an eccentric or cam portion 22 which projects rearwardly from the inner end face 5 of the needle shank when the hook 13 is in an intermediate position,

shown in dot and dash line at 13a in Figure 4. Said cam 1 portion 22 extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the needle shank when the pivotable hook 13 is in the up limit position. The needle shank is provdied with a notch 23, as shown in Figure 2, made in the outer end face 4 below the pivotedhook 13; the purpose of the notch 23 will be described hereinafter.

The needles 1 are mounted for slidable movement within slots 24 of a needle cylinder 25, more particularly shown in Figure l, and are retained in said slots 24 by means of a plurality of cylinder doors. 26 which positively maintain the needles 1 against the bottom wall of the slots 24 so that the cam 22 of the pivoted hook 13 may positively engage said bottom wall to maintain the hook 13 in its up position. The cylinder doors 26, more spe cifically shown in Figures 43 to 46 inclusive, are made of sheet metal, are of rectangularshape and are longitudinally curved to conform tothe, curvature of the needle cylinder 25, and their beaded longitudinal edges 27 are adapted to engage opposed notches 28 made in the side walls ofthe slots 24, said side walls being cut out as shown at 28. A gripping member 29 issecured to the outer face of the cylinder doors 26 and a garter spring 30 is adapted to surround the cylinder 25 by engaging the space between the edge of the gripping member 29 and the opposite face of the cut out portion 28' of the side walls of the slot 24 to lock the cylinder doors in position. Said cylinder doors contact the needles 1 over a substantial length thereof in order to positively prevent any pivotal movement of the same relative to the needle cylinder for the purpose above described. To remove the cylinder doors 26, the garter spring 30 is removed and the doors are lifted, as shown in Figure 45, whereby the bottom beaded edge 27 clears the bottom notch 28.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown in diagrammatic manner, a type of knitting machine in which the cylinder is rotatable and the cam block is stationary, but it is obvious that the contrary could be used. In said Figure 1, the base 31 supports a sinker cam block 32 by means of upright rods 33; a crown gear 34 is secured to the lower end of the needle cylinder 25 and the crown gear teeth are in meshing engagement with a pinion 35, the shaft 36 of which is journalled in the base 31, as at 37 and 38, and is rotated by suitable driving means, not shown. The crown gear 34 has an outwardly projecting flange 39 slidably supported on a shelf 40 of the base 31. The cam block 41 is secured to a plate 42 which is in turn rigidly secured to the base 31 of the knitting machine; said cam block 41 is engaged by the butts of the needlesl and serves to operate said needles for knitting movement.

Sinkers 43 are radially slidably displaceable in radial slots 44 made in a sinker ring 45 which is rigidly secured to the needle cylinder 25 by means of a clamping ring 46. The outer portion of the sinker ring 45 is inslidable engagement with the underface of the sinker cam block 32, as shown at 47. Each sinker 43 is made of sheet metal (see Figures 6 to 11) and its inner end forms arms 43' and 43 separated by a longitudinal slot 48 in which the knitting is carried out. The top edge of the sinker is bent back to form a reinforcement 53 for the upper arm 43 and the outer end of the sinker 43 is provided with an upstanding toe 49 adapted to engage the cam channel 50 within the sinker cam block 32. The lower arm 43" of the sinker 43 is adapted to engage a radial cut 52 made in the upper portion of the needle cylinder 25. There are as many sinkers 43 as there are needles 1 and each sinker is laterally offset with respect to its associated needle. The shape of the sinker cam channel 50 is shown in Figure .13. Relative rotational movement between the sinkers 43 and the sinker cam block 32 will cause radial reciprocating movement of the sinkers within their slots 44.

According to the invention, each sinker 43 is provided with a pivotally mounted transfer member or pick, generally indicated at 55, the purpose of which will be described hereinafter.

- The pick or transfcrrnember 55 is more particularly shown in Figure '7; it consists in a piece of sheet metal having a body portion 56 bent into a U to straddle the top edge of the sinker 43, the legs of said U being provided with registering holes 57 for the insertion of a hollow rivet 58 which also passes through a hole 59 made in the sinker 43. The rivet 58 serves as a pivot for the transfer member 55. A leg 60 extends from the body 56 and the free end of which is folded back into a U forming a leg 61 which is secured to the main leg 60 by means of tongues 62. The inner end portion of the transfer member forms an upwardly directed pointed tip 63 defined by V-shaped notches made adjacent thecommon end of the legs 60 and 61. The end face of the tip 63 is concave,

as shown at 65. It will be noted that the legs 60 and 61 are spaced apart so that the latch 10 of the top hook of the needle 1 may enter the transfer member 55 from below, as shown in'Figure 28. A rod-like projection 66 extends outwardly from the body portion 56 of the trans fer member'55; said rod-like extension is adapted to engage av cam channel 67 made in the inner end face of the sinker cam block 32, as shown in Figure l. The cam channel 67, which will be hereinafter referred to as the r r s transfer member cam. channel, has a shape diagrammatically shown in elevation in Figure 14 and in perspective in Figure. 31. 1

Referring to said Figure 31, it will be. seen that various successive members are secured to the top face of the sinker cam block 32: a yarn feeding member 68 is secured by bolt 69; a sinker guard 70 is secured by bolt 71; a pivoted hook guard 72 is secured by bolt 73; a stitch guard 74 is secured. by bolt 75. As shown in Figure 33, the feed member 68, the pivoted hook guard 72 and the stitch guard '74 extend outwardly of the needles 1, and the sinker guard 70 engages the sinkers on the inside of theneedles 1. Therefore, said sinker guard 70has an elevated dome-shaped upper part 7.0 in order to clear the needles when they are in their up position, as shown in Figure 32.

The feed member 6t is provided with yarn holes 76 and 77, and has a bevelled corner 78. The retaining bolt 69 is engageable within an elongated slot '79 for radial adjustment of said feed member 68. The lower end of the sinker guard 70 is bevelled at its. corner 80. The inner end of the pivoted hook guard 72 forms a vertical end face 81 with an inclined corner portion 82. The guard 72 has a slot '72 engageable by bolt 73 for radial adjustcnt of said guard 72. The stitch guard 74 is provided at its inner end with a detachable L-shaped member 83 having a curved lower edge 84.

Figure 38 shows the inside face of the cam block 41 for one feed, that is, for one knitting operation of the needles. The cam block provides a bottom welt channel 90 to maintain the needles in non-knitting positio a plain knitting channel 91 for guiding the needles to knit plainstitches and a top purl knitting channel 92 for guidi-ng the needles to knit purl stitches. Looking at Figure 38, the needles 1 travel from left to right relatively to the cam block 41. Two selector members 93 and 94 are provided for guiding the needles in either the welt channel 9t), plain knitting channel 91, or purl knitting channel 92. The selector members 93 and 94 are slidably mounted for vertical movement within a groove 95 made in a detachable part of the cam block 41. The two selec tor members 93 and 94 are superposed when in assembled position, as shown in Figure 37, and have inclined top edges 96 and 9! respectively, having the same degree of inclination. the two selector members 93 and 94 are in up limit position they guide all the needles, that is, the needles with the short as well as the long butts, from the common starting portion 98 of the cam channels into the top purl knitting channel 92, as. shown in Figure 39. When the selector member 94 remains in its up limit position but the selector member 9.3 is dropped to a lower position, as shown in Figure 40, the long butt needles continue to enter the top purlknitting channel 92, but the short butt needles are guided into the intermediate plain knitting channel 91. if the selector member 93 is lowered to a down limit position below the position shown in Figure 40, the short butt needles will enter the welt channel 96 and will be in a non-knit. position. If both selector members 93 and 94 are lowered to their down limit position, all the needles will enter the welt channel 90. If the needles 1 are arranged one and. one, the short butt needles alternating with the long butt needles, and the selector members in the positions shown in Figure 40, the resulting arrangement will knit a one and. one rib pattern. This is the. arrangement shown in the drawings, but of course any other arrangement can be provided.

The selector members 93 and 9d are operated by means of rocking levers 99 and 100 respectively, which are pivoted on a common axle 101, as shown in Figure 4.2, and which is mounted in. theficam block. 41. The pivoted position. of the levers 99 and 100 is determined by a control drum 102, shown in Figures 42 and 47, which is provided with removable pegs 103 and 104 of .ditferent lengths and insertahle in holes 105 made in said drum at spaced positions along its entire periphery.

The drum 102 is preferably mounted for rotation in order to facilitate the quick adjustment of the. levers 99 and and consequently the operative position of the selector members 93 and 94. A pawl and ratchet system 51 serves to lock the. drum 102 in adjusted position. Of course, any other type of control mechanism may be substituted for the drum 102: for instance, the position of the selector members may be varied according to a predetermined sequence by a mechanism of the Jacquard type.

Referring to Figure 38, the cam block is provided with two stitch cams. and 106 pivoted within the cam block 41 at 107 and 108 respectively, and are adapted to enter to a greater or lesser extent the top purl knitting channel 92 and the intermediate plain knitting channel 91 respectively, in order to adjust the maximum elevation of the needles 1 when effecting a purl stitch, or to adjust the minimum elevation of needles 1 when effecting a plain stitch to thereby vary the size of said stitches. The angular adjustment of the stitch cams 1G5 and 106 may be effected by any appropriate means, such as the means shown in Figure 47, wherein the pins 169 and .119, depending from the respective cams 1.05 and 106, pass through arcuate slots 111 made in the cam block 41, and are engaged within inclined forked members .112, the transverse positions of which are adjusted by screws 113 which threadedly engage brackets 114. Rotation of the screws 113 will displace the inclined forked "rembers 112 transversely to the pins 109,

thereby move said pins in. the slots 111.

The operation of the knitting machine according to the present invention is as follows: plain knitting is effected in the conventional manner with the top hook 9 and latch 10, the butts of the needles engaging the plain knitting channel 91. Supposing that a purl stitch is to be knitted with a needle 1, the butt of said needle will engage purl knitting channel 92, and the first step of the sequence of operational steps is shown in Figure 15, in which the old loop A is engaged by the top hook 9. The needle 1 moves upwardly, while the completed knitting is retained in the slot 48 of the advanced sinker 43 (positions 115 in Figures 12 and 13 of the needle and associated sinker respectively). During upward movement of the needle 1, the latch 10 is positively opened by the transfer member 55. Then the sinker retracts (positions 116 in Figures 12 and 13) and the yarn feeding member 68 takes a position opposite said needle to thereby engage the. pivoted hook 13 and retain the same in up position (Figure 16), said pivoted hook having been maintained in up position by its eccentric cam 22 engaging the bottom wall of the slot 24 of the needle cylinder. Normally, the yarn feeding member extends higher. than shown in the drawings so as to engage the latch 10 and keep it open even when the needle 1 is at its maximum elevation. As the needle 1 reaches the position shown in Figure 17 (position 117 in Figure 12), the old loop A, is just above the pivoted hook 13, and new yarn is fed at a level below the top of said hook just as the yarn feeding member 68 clears the pivoted hook (see also Figure 32) which pivots downwardly, as shown in Figure 18, over the new yarn and. engages the same. Then, the. needle 1 continues its upward movement and the pivoted hook 13 draws the new yarn upwardly through the old loop A thereby forming a new loop l? (Figure 19) During this movea merit the old loop is prevented from moving upwardly by the sinker arm 43' which is itself prevented from moving upwardly because it is engaged by the sinker guard 7th, as shown in Figure 18.

When the new loop B is completed (Figure 19), the needle 1 has reached its maximum position (position 119 in Figure 12.). Then the sinker dB-advances to its maximum advanced position, as shown in Figure 20, and simultaneously the pivoted. transfer member 55 pivots downwardly (position. 120' in Figure 14) and engages the free leg of the pivoted hook 13. Then the transfer member 55 pivots upwardly thereby also pivoting the pivoted hook 13, as shown in Figure 21, and simultaneously engaging the new loop B. In this position the pivoted hook 13 extends between the arms 60 and 61 of the transfer member 55. Pivotal movement of the hook 13 is furthered by the downward movement of the needle 1 (positions 121 and 122 in Figure 12) and is completed when the hook 13 is engaged by faces 82 and 81 of the hook guard 72, as shown in Figure 22.

The needle continues its downward movement, as shown in Figure 23, at which stage the free leg of the hook 13 slides within the concave recess 65 of the tip 63 of the transfer member 55, whereby the hook 13 is maintained in its up limit position until the cam edge 22 of said hook engages the bottom of the slot 24 at the top end of the needle cylinder, as shown in Figure 24. Because the tip of' the pivoted hook 135 enters the slot of the needle shank 2, the pivoted hook 125 will pass smoothly'through the old loop A, as shown in Figure 24, while the new loop B is retained on the tip of the transfer member 55. The. needle 1 continues its downward movement until the tip 63 of the transfer member 55 engages the top latch 10 and positively pivots the same upwardly, as shown in Figures and 26 (see positions 125 and 126 in Figure 12); then the top hook 9 passes through the old loop A whereby the needle is completely free of the yarn, as shown in Figure 27, the new loop B being still retained on the tip 63 of the transfer member 55. Then the needle reverses its movement and moves upwardly, as shown in Figure 28, to engage the new loop B. The latch 10 enters from below between the arms 60 and 61 of the transfer member 55 and is thereby pivoted downwardly, this pivotal movement being completed by the downward pivotal movement of the transfer member 55, as shown in Figure 29. in which position the extension 66 engages the other kink of the cam channel 67, as shown at-position 129 in Figure 14.

When the top hook of the needle engages the new loop B, as shown in Figure 28, during purl knitting, the tip 63 of the transfer member 55 is closed by the stitch guard 74 in order to prevent said new loop from jumping ofi, the transfer member.

' The completion of the purl knitting cycle is shown in Figure wherein the needle is in a position to knit a plain stitch with the top hook or to again knit a purl stitch with the pivoted hook by repeating the cycle starting from Figure 15. The method of effecting plain knitting is conventional and is made with the top hook, the needles going through the intermediate plain knitting channel 91; thus, referring to Figure 12, needles 131 to 136 inclusive effect plain knitting.

It will be understood that the maximum elevated position of the needles effecting purl knitting (positions 119 and 120 of Figure 12) will be determined by the angular adjusted position of the stitch carn 105 which determines to what extent the new loop B is drawn through the old loop A (see Figure 19). Similarly the lower stitch cam 106 will determine to what extent the new loop is drawn downwardly through. the old loop when making plain knitting.

When knitting purl stitches having large loops, the maximum limit position of the needle will be such that the old loop will engage the recess 23 in the needle shank 2 (see Figure 20) thus the old loop will be prevented from sliding upwardly along the needle whereby the tip 63 of the transfer member 43 will easily engage the large new loop.

When a needle is effecting plain knitting, its associated sinker and transfer member will continue to operate in the manner described for purl knitting and, therefore, the transfer member-will pivot close to the needle 1a effecting plain knitting, shown in dot and dash line in Figure 20, but the dimensions of the transfer member are such that the latter will clear said needle 1a.

It is obvious that the elements described hereinabove, more particularly the cam block and the sinker block, constitute one feed unit, but they can be repeated to form a multiple feed knitting machine. It is also obvious that these feed units could replace only certain of the cam blocks and associated elements which are conventional in multiple feed jersey stitch machines for making plai knitting.

Although a circular machine has been described, it is obvious that the present invention can be adapted to straight knitting machines for knitting selvedge knitted fabrics, and it is understood that the term needle cylinder, used in the description and in the annexed claims, is construed to apply also to the so-called' needle plates which support the needles in straight knitting machines.

While a preferred embodiment according to the present invention has been illustrated and described, it is understood that various modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A knitting needle comprising a shank, a top hook at one end of said shank and integral therewith, a butt on said shank near the other end thereof and a second hook pivotally mounted on said shank at a substantial distance from said top hook and intermediate the ends of said shank, said second hook having its free end portion forming a U and capable of rotating relative to said shank through an angle of more than 2. A knitting needle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second hook is pivoted in a slot in the needle shank, said second hook being pivotable in said shank slot between an upper and a lower position in both of which the free leg of the U-shaped hook enters said slot so that the side walls of said slot overlap the tip of said hook.

3. A knitting needle as claimed in claim 2, wherein said slot opens at both end faces of said shank.

4. A knitting needle as claimed in claim 3, wherein the pivoted end of said second hook forms a cam edge adapted to project from said shank in certain intermediate pivoted positions of said hook relative to said shank.

5. A knitting needle as claimed in claim 4, wherein the portion of the end face of said shank containingthe top portion of said slot and immediately above the pivotal connection of said secondhook to said shank forms a boss projecting from said shank on the same side as the U-shaped portion of said hook.

6. A knitting needle as claimed in claim 4, wherein said cam edge extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said shank in the upper position of said second hook.

7. A method for producing'a purl knitting stitch on a knitting needle having a top hook for making plain stitches and having a second hook pivoted on the needle below said top hook, said method comprising the steps of forming a first loop on said needle, feeding a yarn to said second hook while the latter is in up position, allowing said second hook to pivot over said yarn in down position thereby engaging said yarn, upwardly displacing'said needle to cause said hook to draw said yarn upwardly through said first loop on said needle, thereby forming a new loop, pivoting said second hook upwardly to clear said new loop, retracting said needle to knock over said first named loop andprojecting said needle for engaging said new loop.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, further including the steps of transferring said new loop and maintaining it on a transfer member during retracting and projecting of said needle to cast off the first named loop and engage the new loop.

9. A method for producing knitted fabrics having plain and purl stitches in the same wale on a knitting machine having needles each provided with a top hook rigid with the needles and a pivotable hook mounted on said needle below said top hook, said method comprising feeding yarn at a predetermined feeding level with respect to said machine to the top hook of said needle, knitting a plain stitch with said top hook thereby forming a first loop of yarn around said needle, displacing said needle relative to said first loop, while said pivoted hook is projecting upwardly, to a position with said pivoted hook extending above said feeding level, feeding yarn to said pivoted hook at said feeding level while said hook is projecting upwardly, allowing said pivoted hook to pivot downwardly over said yarn to thereby hook said yarn, upwardly displacing said needle to cause said pivoted hook to draw said yarn upwardly through said first loop on said needle thereby forming a second loop, transferring said second loop onto a transfer member, pivoting said pivotable hook upwardly to release said second loop, rc tracting said needle to clear said first loop, projecting said needle to engage said second loop and retracting said transfer member to clear said second loop.

10. A method for producing knitted fabrics having plain and purl stitches in the same Wale comprising feeding yarn at a predetermined feeding level to a needle of a knitting machine, knitting a plain stitch with said needle thereby forming a first loop of yarn around said needle, displacing said needle relative to said first loop, feeding yarn at said predetermined feeding level to a pivoted hook on said needle, allowing said pivoted hook to pivot downwardly over said yarn to hook said yarn, causing said pivoted hook to draw said yarn upwardly through said first loop thereby forming a second loop of purl knitting, and holding said new loop while retracting said needle to knock over said first loop and projecting said needle to engage said new loop.

11. A machine for producing knitted fabrics having plain and purl stitches in the same Wale, comprising a single needle cylinder, a needle slidable in said cylinder and having a top hook for producing plain knitting and a pivoted hook pivotally mounted on said needle below said top hook for producing purl knitting, means for feeding yarn at a predetermined level above the top edge of said needle cylinder, needle operating cam means for operating said needle to produce a plain stitch with said top hook and for operating said needle to produce a purl stitch with said pivoted hook.

12. A knitting machine for producing knitted fabrics comprising a needle cylinder, a plurality of needles displaceable in said cylinder, each of said needles having a butt and having a plain stitch top latch hook and a purl stitch hook pivoted on said needle below said top latch hook, a sinker associated with each needle, a transfer member pivoted on each sinker and facing the associated needle, cam means for displacing said sinkers according to a predetermined movement, additional cam means for pivoting said transfer members relative to said sinkers at predetermined positions of said sinkers, a cam block having a first cam channel and a second channel, and means for selectively causing said needle butts to engage said first or second channels for knitting with said top hook or with said pivoted hook respectively.

13. A knitting machine as claimed in claim 12, Wherein said pivoted hook is engageable by said transfer member to pivot said pivoted hook upwardly with respect to said needle.

14. A knitting machine as claimed in claim 12, further including an eccentric cam edge on said pivoted hook adapted to engage said needle cylinder whereby said needle cylinder maintains said pivoted hook in up position.

15. A knitting machine as claimed in claim 14, wherein said pivoted hook is engageable with a yarn feeding member when said cam edge of said pivoted hook is at the top edge of said cylinder whereby said pivoted hook is still maintained in upright position.

16. A knitting machine as claimed in claim 15, wherein said top hook has a pivoted latch which is engageable with said transfer member to pivot said latch upwardly to close said top hook.

17. A knitting machine as claimed in. claim 15, wherein said top hook has a pivoted latch which is engageable by said transfer member to pivot said latch downwardly to open said top hook.

18. A knitting machine comprising a needle cylinder, needles carried by said cylinder, a hook pivotally mounted on each of said needles and a transfer member associated with each of said needles, said transfer member being mounted on said machine for movement towards and away from its associated needle and in the plane of said needle, means for causing said pivoted hook to draw a new loop through an old loop on said needle to make a purl stitch, means operating said transfer member to engage said new loop, means operating said needle to clear said old loop, and means for operating said needle to engage said new loop.

19. A knitting machine comprising a needle cylinder, needles carried by said cylinder, a hook pivotally mounted on each of said needles, a sinker associated with each of said needles, cam means for moving said sinker towards and away from its associated needle, and a transfer member pivotally mounted on each of said sinkers, and facing the associated needle, cam means for pivoting said transfer member in the plane of its associated needle, cam means for operating said needle for causing said pivoted hook to draw a new loop upwardly through an old loop on said needle to make a purl stitch, said transfer member being engageable with said new loop while said needle clears said old loop.

20. A knitting machine as claimed in claim 19, wherein said needle has a top hook provided with a pivoted latch, said transfer member engageable with said pivoted latch to pivot the same upwardly and downwardly with respect to said needle.

21. A knitting machine as claimed in claim 19, wherein said transfer member consists of a body pivotally mounted on said sinker, an arm extending towards said needle in the form of a U, the free end portion of said arm forming an upwardly directed pointed tip, the outer face of said tip being recessed, and an extension cam engaging member depending from said body and extending away from said needle.

22. In a knitting machine as claimed in claim 19, further including a sinker guard mounted on the sinker cam means and having aportion engageable with the top edge of said sinker for preventing upward displacement thereof during purl knitting with said pivoted hook.

23. A knitting machine as claimed in claim 22, further including a pivoted hook guard mounted on said sinker cam means and engageable with said pivoted hook to maintain the same in up position.

24. In a knitting machine as claimed in claim 23, further including a stitch guard secured to said sinker cam means and engageable with said transfer member when the new loop is on said transfer member and said needle is moving upwardly to engage the new loop.

25. In a knitting machine as claimed in claim 12, where in said needle cylinder has a plurality of outwardly directed slots for receiving said needles, the side walls of said slots being open for a substantial distance, and further including cylinder doors engageable in the apertures of said side walls to maintain said needles in contact with the bottom of said slots over a substantial distance in order to prevent transverse displacement of said needles with respect to said cylinder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,779,249 Parlini Oct. 21, 1930 2,081,515 Trejo May 25, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS 301,349 Great Britain Nov. 27, 1928 

